Nate Marquardt vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama

Nate Marquardt(30-10-2) and Yoshihiro Akiyama(13-3) have been given every opportunity to become title contenders, yet each have failed in recent fights. Now, they will meet at UFC 128 in hopes of forging a new run at the title in 2011.

6th ranked middleweight Nate Marquardt drew the ire of Dana White after his lackluster performance against Yushin Okami. At times, Marquardt can look like a world beater, but also can fold when his opponents take the role as aggressor.

Yoshihiro Akiyama(ranked 23rd MW) was a huge signing for the UFC, in their ongoing task to gain popularity in Asia. Akiyama debuted in grand fashion at UFC 100, where he won a tight decision over Alan Belcher. Since then, Akiyama has dropped fights to Michael Bisping and Chris Leben, ultimately dropping his stock as a top-flight middleweight.

Akiyama struggles with his reach and conditioning, and would be wise to consider an eventual move to welterweight should he lose this fight. Both fighters will likely let their hands fly in this fight, and that should favor Marquardt as he packs more power in his punches. Akiyama is as tough as they come, and I’m sure he will make it a better fight than most will expect.